Combustion control apparatus



June 24', 1930. w. J. cRowELL. JR

7 COMBUSTION CONTROL APPARATUS Original Filed Oct. 9. 0 1 x v fl #5 I yIIASV y-(y em/"7 4 ,H b 3/0:

a Z A L 65 W Bea/2g Patented June 24, 1930 OFFICE WILLIAM JAMES CROWELL, JR., OF WYNGCTE, PENNSYLVANIA COMBUSTIGN CONTROL APPARATUS Application filed October 9, 1920, Seria1'No.415,945. Renewed May 12, 1927.

Tl1e object of my present invention is to provide a relatively simple apparatus by means of which there may be such automatic control of the air supplied to furnace as 5 will result in the most advantageous gaseous mixture in the furnace.

In accomplishing this result my differential ratio meter, U. S. Patent No. 1,308,626, of July 1, 1919, is connected to act as an improved CO meter, as hereinafter ex plained, or as an improved boiler efficiency meter as hereinafter explained. A continuous periodic small and slowfluctuation is impressed on the positionof a damper controlling the relative quantities of primary and secondary air, resulting in a continuous and slow periodic fluctuation in furnace con ditions and a corresponding fluctuation in the position of the ratio balance. At the end of each periodic small fluctuation of the damper, an. electric circuit changes slightly the average position of the damper, the direction of the small change being, always such as to improve furnace conditions.

If the ratio balance is used as an improved CQ meter, furnace conditions automatically gravitate to any desired percentage of CO in the flue gas, every periodic adjustment of the damper being in a direction to bring the desired percentage of CO in the flue gas.

If the ratio balance is used as a boiler efiiciency meter, then furnace conditions automatically gravitate to give maximum boiler efliciency.

Referring to the drawings,Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of the invention, the ratio meter being connected as an improved CO meter. 7 i

Fig. 2 is a perspective enlarged detail illustrating the electric connections at the balance. 1

Fig. 3 illustrates the ratio meter as an improved boiler efficiency meter.

Referring to Fig.1. amfan A delivers a continuous stream of flue gas into the pipe A at atmospheric pressure, the percentage of CO in this flue gasbeing affected by the .position of the damper controllingthe relative quantities of primaryand secondary air admittedto a furnace. A second fan,

B, draws a small continuous supply of the flue gas from the pipe A successively .through a coil B surrounded bya caustic solution C within a chamber C, througha small orifice 13,, through a pipe B delivering .55 into the caustic solution C in small bubbles through the caustic solution C andthrough a pipe B and a second small orifice B The CO of the continuous sample drawn by the fan- B. from the pipe A is absorbed in :69 the caustic solution C and the ratio of the fall in pressure at the second small orifice B to the fall in pressure at the first small orifice B is a function .of the percentage of CO absorbed at C ,so that a continuous record of this ratio (by the ratiorecorder) on a'suitable scale 1) will bea record of CO inthe flue gas The differential pressure at the orifice B is transmitted by means of the pressure con- 70 nections E and E to the cylinder D and D of the. ratio meter D, exerting a tilting moment, as described in specification of U. S. Patent No. 1,308,626 of'July 1, 1919', proportional to the "impressed differential form the orifice B The differential or drop in pressure at the-small orifice 13;, is equal to the suction or pressure below atmosphere after the orifice B as transmitted by the pressure connection E to the space above the liquid beneath the hell or inverted cup shaped receptacle D of the ratio meter" D, for the pressure before the .orificeB .is sensibly atmospheric, the fan. A discharging to atmosphere through asufliciently large pipe A and the bore of' the pipev and coil B being sufliciently large, as compared with the size of theorifice B K i The ratio meter 1) comprises a U tube I D D' D with flexible connections D,; and 1).; rigidly fastened to a vertical arm 1), pivoted at D, upon fixedbearing Duhavi-ng rigidlyattached tovit atits'lower end a bell or inverted cup-shaped receptable D M dipping into water or other liquid in a suitable stationary receptacle D5 and having a screw counterweight D nearthe lower end of the vertical arm D; ;and having a suitable recording or indicating mechanism 1), y v ,1 N

As p n d in U S. Patent No. 1,308,-

626, the pivoted member D D D D is sensibly neutral when there is zero differential at the cylinders D and D and zero gauge pressure above the liquid beneath the bell D that is, will exert of itself no sensible tendency to move to any particular position within its usual range of motion. This condition of neutrality of the balance with respect to its angular position has been described in detail in the patent referred to. It is obtained by so relating dimensions and weights of the different parts of the balance that flow of water (or other sealing liquid) between the cylinders D and D by reason of merely tipping the balance does not affect the equilibrium of the balance, in that the transfer of weight from one cylinder to the other results in a change in the turning or deflecting moment just balanced by a corresponding opposite change in the restoring moment from the shifting of the center of gravity of the balance, incident to the tipping.

In operation the deflecting moment is proportional to the differential pressure transmitted from the small orifice 13 to the cylinders D and D and the restoring moment resisting deflection is simultaneously proportional to the deflection and to the suction under D from the small orifice 13 that is proportional to the product of the deflection by the suction under D The balance angularly deflects or turns 7 upon its pivot to positions of equilibrium under the combined influences of the deflecting moment and of the restoring moment.

The deflecting moment, in view of the neutrality of the balance with respect to its position, is that impressed upon the upper cylinders, D and D by the differential pressure from the orifice B 1, and is directly proportional to this differential pressure and independent of the degree of deflection.

The restoring moment, that tending to return the balance toits mid position, is due to the suction beneath the bell D from the orifice B and is a direct function of the degreeof suction and of the degree of deflection from mid position, in that the arm of the-restoring moment varies directly with the deflection from mid position. V 1

The "balance is normally in substantial equilibrium, the restoring moment, except for aslight lag, maintaining equality with the deflecting moment, so'that algebraically M =M lvLKI-I; M =KHf; whence 'f; f=. or f K"(I-I/H)=K"R.v In these expressions and M are the deflecting and restoring moments respectively, K, K and K" are constants, H and H are the impressed differentials toward deflection and restoration respectively, R isthe ratio I-I/I-I between these difierentials, and f is the degree of deflection of the balance from its zero position. I

The deflection of the balance is thus proportional to the ratio between the differential pressures transmitted from the orifices B and B which ratio is a function of the percentage of CO in the stream of flue gas passing to the absorption chamber C, in that these differentials measure the same stream of flue gas with and without its CO so that the deflection of the balance is a dependent function of the CO In adjusting the balance so that it may indicate CO on a suitable chart or scale D a blank is run with CO -free air and the adjusting counter-weight D is screwed to the right or left until the pen D indi cates zero CO on the scale of the chart.

The cylinders D and D are now by-passed making zero differential between these cylinders, the suction in the bell D remaining unchanged. The adjusting counterweight D is now'screwed to the right or left until the pen D again reads zero CO on the chart, careful note being made of the number of turns and fraction of a turn through which the counter-weight D must be moved to accomplish this result.

lVith 20% CO the ratio between the differentials at B and B will be about 0.58 as great as when there is Zero CO supposing the other gas present to be air or to have the density of air, as is sensibly true with ordinary flue gas. The countenweight D is now screwed back 0A2 (or 1.00 minus 0.58) of the number of turns that were required to bring the pen again to zero after by-passing the cylinders. The pen should now indicate 20% CO if the balance is in correct calibration, and if it does not indicate 20% CO then the quantity of water in the stationary receptacle D is altered until the pen does indicate 20% CO after which the apparatus should bein correct calibration for recording CO in the flue gas, the counterweight D being put back to its position for zero indication on a blank run of CO free air.

Changing the quantity of liquid in the stationary receptacle D changes the effective length of the arm of the moment exerted by the differential from the orifice B In practice this adjustment of the quantity of liquid in the stationary receptacle D should be within rather narrow limits, being merely such as is necessary to care for ineXactness in duplication of dimensions of the ratio meter and of the orifices B and The ratio balance is responsive to variation in the ratio of the differential pressure across thesmall orifice B to thesuction under the'bell D and there maybe wide change in the individual magnitudesiof the awaeso differential and-suction without any change whatever in the heading of thebalanee provided the ratio between them does 1111 the arrangement of Figure 1 the 'i'on under the bell will usuall fairl y constant by reason of the reierablytair- 1y constantspee'd "of the fan B; it will however vary somewhat with variation in the Q0 content of the gas and also gradually A common fault with C0) recorders is: alag of magnitude to'o greatr to permit their use in any automatic control of air supply. In my improved apparatus lag ismade extremely small by placing. the fan A'cl'os'e to the absorptionchamber by making the piping between thefan-A and tlie orific'e B of small bore and relatively short, and by making the absorption chambei- C at,the top taper to the plpeB so that' the volume of gas Within the chamber may be Very small, and a few seconds may sufii'ee to bring a sample of flue gas from the flue to and through the absorption apparatus;

In practice the fans A and B may con veniently b'eonthe'same shaftl V The temperature of the: flue gas" should be the same at the orifice B l-and at the orifice B and to bring this about the coil B is conveniently placed within the caustic charnber C, as in the figure. A

An elect-riccontact member F is adjiistably attached to, and electric-ally insulated from the vertioalarm D of the ratio meter at F23t11d has an arm-F passingdbvvhivard through a vertical slot i l'za pi-voted contact member G- (seeenlargedperspective detail,

Fig. 2') Gr comprising upper and lower horizontal metal plates G and G' zand a vertian0ther,the Walls of the verticalislot aflording electric contact between, G1 and F at the top or between G and F at the" bottom.

The pivot member G i'sprovided with suitable bearings G the insulation between the plate G and G is shown at G5 andlthe insg rlation between the pivot and the plates at V Deflection of the ratiobal'anee impresses deflection on: the contact member; G by reason: of the electric contact time F pressing against oneside of the vertical slot through G. If the arm: F is inclined forward-hem the bottom upward then forwarddeflection of the ratio: balance'iwill give contact'between F and G and backward eefleetienoi the ratio balance will, eentaet' between F and G5, and vice versa, if the arm F is inclined backward 'fr'om'the bottom up then forward deflection of the ratio balance will result in contact between F and G and backward deflection of the ratio balance xv-i-l-l result in contact between F and G The inclination of the arm F varies with the-position of the ratio balance as with the balance it deflects about the pivot D The" arm F may be 'set'vertica l at may desired position of the ratio balance "as for example that cor-responding? to 14% CO2 ancl ifl after thus havinggset F vertical at this, position, the balance is deflected for-- ward, then F becomes inclinedbackward 'iiom thebottom up-and any'forvvard "clefiec: ti'o'n is accompanied by contact between F and G an'cl deflection ba'ck' accom anied by c eontact between F and G until the vertical position for F is passed after which F is incli ned the other way and iiigoing backward electric contactwill be between F and G5; and on returning to'v'vard the position in Which F is vertical contact-will be betive'en F and G 7 l i A damper or: distributing valve.1? 'controlling the relativequantities of primary and secondary air' to a furnace is connected by means of aehainor rope H to a float H? in such a Way that the verti'cal'height ofthe float H determines the position of the dam er. The float'member H floats Within a float receptacle H floating in larger and fixed receptacle H P is the airsupply eonduitiot siipplyin the total air for combustion ill-"lill' fillll'll under control; The; farmer; itselfis not shown; being in no way a direct part of my invention. I l The supply conduit P divides into distributing branche P and: P? for; distributing the air to different parts oi the furnace, these branches 'carrying'respectively for ex ample'primary and secondaryair, v

Primary air is that entering the furnace through the incandescent" fuel arid reacts with the fuel to give eoinbustion protluets cal pivot G electrically insulated from one that are incompletely burned and second:

aryair is'that; added after the first-reaction I so-complete the combustion;

1 is a distributor or valve of disti ibu tion for controllingthe-distribution orrelative quantities of air supplied thfough the branches P and P and has aport P opening-partly across both: branche's 'and the spective inlet areasinto the ranchfes is determined by the height of this valve sothat by per ion of th'e'total air maybe directed to eitherbr'anch; 1

The air distributo'r P which} thus controls theair distribution te -the furnace,- as for varying the heightallor none'or any desired example the'relative uantities'oi -piimaiien ceptacle H and secondary air, is operatively connected, as by means of a chain or wire H over pulleys H, to the float H so that the height of this float determines the air distribution to the furnace, that is determines the relative quantities of air through the branches P and P In usual operation constant water pressure is supplied to the pipe I before the valve J J being controlled by the motor K. The valve J is closed and the valve J is open, the pipe I being of small bore so that even when the valve J is open wide water discharge is throttled at the pipe 1 causing a head of water in the receptacle H the depth of this water depending on the quantity of water that must pass through the pipe I as determined by the extent to which valve J, is open. The average height of the float H depends upon this depth of water in the receptacle IL, that is, upon the extent to which the valve J is open. A continuous intermittent rise and fall is impressed on the float H a small hole H in the bottom of the float receptacle H permitting this receptacle to gradually fill with water until an intermittent Syphon L overflows, when the 'water in the vreceptacle H is quickly lowered, the water discharging through the flexible pipe I into the waste pipe I only again to gradually fill and quickly discharge, the operation of repeated gradual rise and fairly rapid fall being thus kept up continuously and automatically, irrespective of the depth of water in H It will be understood that an intermittent siphon is one that is self-starting whenever there-is suflicient depth of liquid in the vessel and having a rate of discharge greater than the stream flowing into the vessel.

When the float H is at the end of'its gradual rise an electric circuit closes at L, the circuit being from the source of current M to L, throughthe conducting wire L to the contact member F on the ratio balance, thence to G or G and the corresponding conducting wires L or L to the motor K controlling the water to the re- The motor K, by'controlling the opening and closure of the supply valve J operates to increase. or to diminish the head of water in the receptacle H according as the circuit is through G or G thus, suppose the arm F of the ratio balance is adjusted: so

that itis vertical when the ratio balance is in the position corresponding to 14% CO Suppose the CO in the flue gas to average about 10% and that when the circuit temporarily closes at L after the slow rise of the float H the CO in the flue gas, by reason of this gradual rise, is increasing in the'flue gas causing the balance: to move toward 14%, the actual reading however, being perhaps'10%. The Arm F will then slope in such a way as to make the contact with G causing the motor K to slightly turn the valve J in such a way as to increase the head of .water inthe receptacle H thus changing the average height of the float H in such direction as would result in greater percentage of CO in the flue gas. If, on the other hand, the gradual rise of the float H had resulted in a gradual fall in the per centage of CO then electric contact would have been through F to Gr and the motor K would partially close the valve J 1 diminishing the average height of the float H but changing this average height in the proper direction to result in an increase in the CO in the flue gas.

The arrangement isv one which every periodic adjustment of the valve J by the motor K is in such direction as will result in an increase in percentage of CO in the flue gas as long as this percentage is below 1 1%, and in direction such as will result in lower Co whenever the percentage of CO in the flue gas already exceeds 14%. v

If it is desired at any time to quickly lower the float H so as to quickly change the position of the damper controlling the relative quantities of primary and secondary air to the furnace, all that is necessary is to open the valve J which will quickly empty the receptacle H or if it is desired to quickly raise the float H beyond its normal position, all that is necessary is to close the valve J 3 when the receptacle H will fill with water to any desired height.

'In practice it is sometimes convenient in order to obtain closer regulation at the valve J to by-pass this valve with part of the flow to the pipe I there being a suitable handvalve in this by-pass.

' The arrangement is one in which periodic adjustments are made to the damper, every adjustment being in such direction as will tend to bring aboutany desired percentage of CO in the flue gas.

Referring to Fig. 3 representing the ratio meter as a boiler efliciency meter, the arrangement for the automatic control of the damper is not shown, being essentially the same as. in Fig. 1, there being automatic periodic adjustmentof the damper, each ad'- justment being in such direction as will tend to increase the ratio of heat output from the boiler to furnace input, that is to increase boiler'etflciency. As all damper adjustments are to be such as will tendv to make the balance gravitate in only one direction, that is towardv a maximum, instead of toward some desired 'specificvaluaas with the balance connected as a'CO meter, the contact member G may conveniently be somewhat simplified, in that contactmembers G and G need each afford contact surface with B, (see Fig.1) on only one side of the slot through G,,contactswi th G andG being ,respectlvely on opposite sides of: the slot through G. i

In view of. the flue gas pressure before the boiler usually difi'ering somewhat. from atmospheric pressure it is necessary to. have a difierent arrangement. from that in. Fig, l

at the hell. or invertedcup-shaped receptacle D The bell D hangs bya metal ribbon.

D and is pivoted at aknifeedge D -at. the lower .end of the vertical arm D The stationary receptacle D is coveredby a lid D with a narrow slot D through which passes themetal ribbon D suspending the bell D Thisnarrow slot D is. of a size just suflicient to. permit the. thinmetal rib-- hon-.D to deflect; through its proper range:

ofmotion Withouttouching the wallsofthe slotD The pressure pipe E gives pressure connection between the flue gas before it reaches-theboiler andithe space-withinD abovethe. bell D and thesize of this pres sure pipe E is relativelylarge as compared.

to the size .of the. clearance spacethrough the lid "D at D13 around the thin metalribbon D so that there is sensibly thesame pressure in D above the bell D asiin the flue gas before the. boiler. The pipe E gives pressure connection to-ythe: fluegasafter it passes the boiler.

Claims:

1. In apparatus for automatically controlling the distribution..-of airto a furnace by successive automatic adjustments of a com tinuously operative; air; distributor, automatic means for slightly reciprocatingthei air distribution, and;other. automaticmeans responsive :to furnace; conditions .for adjust: ing -the distributor at intervals synchronous With the reciprocation. r

2;. In apparatus-for automatically c0ntrol ling the distribution...of:air to a furnace by successive automatic adj ustments' of a a con tinuously operative air distributor, means for slowly oscillating the air; distribution,- mechanism responsive to furnace-1 conditions, and an electricicontrol. of. the adjustments operative by the mechanism at intervals synchronous with the oscillation. I

3.- In apparatus for automatically controlling the distribution of air. to. a furnace. by successive automatic 'adjustmentss of; aacon tinuously operative air distributor',t-means for slowlyoscillating the airi'distribution, mechanism responsive to furnace: conditions, an electric controlof the adjustments. opera tive by the mechanism, a contact maker in the electric circuit of the control, and means for operating the" contact makeratzintervals synchronous with the: oscillation.

4:. In apparatus for automaticallyconrtrols hug the distribution :of airitora: furnace by successive automaticvadjnstments in the po sition of a continuously. operative air distributor, means for:slowlymoscillating. the

distributor, mechanism responsive to fu rnace conditions, an electric control of the adjustments operative by the mechanism, a

contact maker the electric circuit of the control, and means operative by the oscillation of the-distributor for operating the contact maker at one phase of the oscillation;

5. In apparatusfor automatically controlling the distribution of air to a furnace by successiveautomatic adj ustments' in the po sition of a continuously operative air distributor, a fioat controlling the average posi-' tion ofthe distributor, a fluid means for vertically positioning the float, means for slightly oscillating the air distribution, a valve continuously controlling the fluid means, mechanism responsiveto furnace conditions, and an adjustor of the valve 0 erated intermittently and synchronously withthe oscillation by the mechanism.

6. In apparatus for automatically controlling the distribution of airto a-furnace by successive automatic adjustmentsin the position of a continuously operative air-distributor, means-for'slow-ly reciprocating the distribution ofair, mechanism responsive-to furnace conditions, and other-{means operative at intervals in phasewiththe recipro cation by motion of sthemechanism and directionally controlled by the-direction thereoffor peffecting the adjustments;

7 i In apparatus for automatically controlling the distributi0n-= of" air to a furnace bysuccessiveautomatieadjustments in the position" of a=continuously operative air distributor, means for slowly:reciprOcatingthe distribution of air, a: contact maker," other means for operating the contactmakeraat}in tervals synchronous with the. reciprocations, a contact I maker and changer responsi=veto furnace conditions, and. an electricv circuit for controlling. and effecting;theeakljustments and including thecont'act makeriand contact maker and .changeri j 8 In apparatus for automatically con-,- trolling :the distribution of 1 to a furnace by successive automatic adjustments the position o fia continuously operative: air Jdi s tributor, meansfor slowly reciprocating? the I and operative at intervals in phase w-ith the 10. In apparatus for automatically con trolling the distribution of air to a furnace by successive automatic adjustments of an air distributor, means for impressing small and slow reciprocation upon the distributor,

' contact maker operative intermittently by the distributor and at intervals in phase with the reciprocation, a contact maker and chan er responsive -to furnace conditions, adjustable other means for automatically reversing the operation of the contact maker and changer at its position that corresponds to desirable furnace conditions, and an electric circuit for controlling and effecting the adjustments and including the contact maker and the contact maker and changer.

11. In apparatus for automatically controlling the distribution of air to a furnace by successive automatic adjustments of an air distributor, means for impressing small and slow reciprocation upon the air distribution, a pivoted member angularly responsive to furnace conditions, and means for using periodically and at intervals in phase with the reciprocation the direction of motion of the pivoted member to control and effect the adjustments.

12. In apparatus for automatically controlling the distribution of air to a furnace by successive automatic adjustments of a continuously operative air distributor, means for impressing small and slow reciprocation upon the distributor,a pivoted member angularly responsive to furnace conditions, and means for using periodically and at intervals in phase with the reciprocation the direction of motion of the pivoted member to control and effect the adjustments.

13. In apparatus for automatically controlling the distribution of air to a furnace by successive automatic adjustments of a continuously operative air distributor, means for impressing small and slow reciprocation upon air distribution, a pivoted contact member angularly responsive to furnace conditions, a contact maker closed periodically and at intervals in phase with the reciprocation, and an electric circuit including the contact member and the cont-act maker and through a path determined by the direction of angular motion of the contact member at closure of the contact maker and for controlling and effecting the adjustments.

14. In apparatus for automatically controlling the distribution of air to a furnace.

by successive automatic adjustments to the position of a continuously operative air dis-' tributor, means for impressing small and slow reciprocationnpon the distributor, a pivoted contact member angularly responsive to furnace conditions, a contact maker closed periodically and at intervals synchronous with the reciprocation, and an electric circuit including the contact member and the contact maker and through a path determined by the direction of angular motion of the pivoted contact member at closure of the contact maker and for controlling and effecting the adjustments.

15. In apparatus for automatically controlling the distribution of air to a furnace by successive automatic adjustments of distribution, an air distributor, and means for impressing small and 'slow reciprocation uponthe distributor comprising a float positioning the distributor, a vessel within which the float operates, an inlet adapted to continuously pass a small stream of liquid into the vessel, and an intermittent syphon discharge adapted intermittently to discharge a relatively large stream of liquid from the vessel.

16. In apparatus for automatically controlling thedistribution of air to a furnace by successive automatic adjustment in air distribution, an air distributor, a fluid container adapted to contain different depths offluid, a fluid connection thereto, a floating vessel within the container having a small fluid inlet beneath the levelof the fluidwithin the container, a flexible intere mittent syphon discharge from the vessel to without the container and adapted by its flexibility to permit riseandfall of the vessel, a float within the vessel intermittently rising and falling by reason of the continuous flow through the inlet and intermittent discharge from the flexible syphon, opera tive connection between the float and the distributor, and means operative by the changing furnace conditions .at intervals synchronous with the intermittent motion of the float for controlling and adjusting the depth of fluid within the container.

17. In apparatus for automatically controlling the distributionof air to a furnace by successive automaticadjustment in air distribution, an air distributor, a water container adapted to contain diflerent depths of water, a water connectionthereto, an inlet valve thereto, a throttled discharge thereafter, a floating vessel within the container having a small water inlet beneath the level ofthe water without the vessel and within the container, a flexible intermittent syphon from the vessel to discharge without the container and adapted intermittently to materially lower the water within the vessel and adapted by its flexibility to permit vertical variation in the height of the vessel with Ill change in depth of Water within the container, a float Within the vessel intermittently rising and falling by reason of the continuous flow through the inlet and intermittent discharge through the syphon, operative connection between the float and distributor, a contact maker operative at intervals periodically synchronous with the intermittent motion of the float, a contact makerand changer responsive to furnace conditions and an electric circuit for adjusting the inlet valve and including the contact maker and contact maker and changer.

WILLIAM JAMES CROWELL, JR. 

